New York State Health Care Reform Act (HCRA)

Notification regarding the effect of HCRA surcharge modifications on inpatient stays beginning prior to and ending after July 1, 2003

QUESTION: Based on the surcharge modifications which are effective on July 1, 2003, what will be the HCRA surcharge obligation for patients admitted to a general hospital prior to June 30, 2003, but discharged on or after July 1, 2003? Will the surcharge vary between that portion of the inpatient stay prior to July 1, 2003, and the portion on and after this date?

RESPONSE: When a discharge occurs on or after July 1, 2003, for a patient whose inpatient stay began prior to July 1, 2003, the following surcharges apply:

-- for payors paying for inpatient services on a per-diem basis, surcharges in effect for periods prior to July 1, 2003, shall be due for payments related to days of service rendered through June 30, 2003, while revised surcharges are due for days of service occurring on and after July 1, 2003.

-- for payors paying for services on a per-discharge basis, the revised surcharges effective on July 1, 2003, are due for the entire stay.